What is the importance of the perspective “from which” war is seen and studied? what
consequences derive from its changing (e.g. thanks to legal rules and social
institutions)?. The perspective question can be instantiated by the modern dichotomy
state of nature-civil society, and beyond war it is extensible to related concepts like
“security”. When war is conceived as the authentic ontology of States’ relations, peace
is an “empty” space incapable to offer any standpoint. The last decades developments
show the “new” capability of a “peace standpoint”, a greatly institutionalised normative
dimension offering different meaning to the common space. Once achieved this point of
view, not only war ceases to structure an ontological dimension, but it can hardly be
appealed to for its alternative “constructive” (or re-shaping) function in the era of
terrorism and nuclear menace.

Subject:
Legal Philosophy; International Law; Political Theory; International Relations; Theories of War